The Indian Photographer (T.I.P)

Moved to my server

2011-10-29T19:39:00.002+05:30

Hi

I have moved this blog to my website - http://www.gauravpandey.co.in/photography/

In the next few days, I would move all the posts from this blog to http://www.gauravpandey.co.in/photography/

Thank you for visiting.

Gaurav Pandey
The Indian Photographer!

Harley Davidson on the steets of Delhi

2008-03-19T18:01:00.000+05:30

Hey!! I did buy a ticket!!!

2007-12-17T18:31:00.000+05:30

Pollution

2007-12-17T18:28:00.000+05:30

Life in a metro

2007-11-11T12:46:00.000+05:30

Namkeen ki Dukaan

2007-11-11T12:39:00.000+05:30

Today Namkeens find place in everyone's snack-menu and its popularity has already gained momentum. It has become popular not only in the country but also oversea. Traditionally, manufacturing of namkeens was the domain of unorganised sector, thus hygiene and quality always left doubt in the minds of its users. In fact a segment of society stayed away from these products as hygiene of these products was not assured.

When a large section of society started placing high importance to hygiene of such products, its manufacturing started switching over to organised sector, which placed range of namkeens In different brands. This phenomenon has changed the whole scenario of the industry. There has been shift in demand from unorganised sector to branded product from the organised sector. Demand for branded products has thus boomed as certain standards are maintained in their manufacturing which hat been Instrumental In building up confidence amongst its users. This has also helped in creating demand from those who stayed away from these products for hygiene reasons.
Namkeens add a Special touch to every occasion. And in India, namkeens form an integral part of Celebration, be it Marriage or Birth of Child or Festivals.

An Indian Wedding

2007-11-06T14:53:00.000+05:30

Pav Bhaji

2007-11-06T14:49:00.000+05:30

Urban Banjari

2007-11-06T14:44:00.000+05:30

Dushera

2007-10-24T01:06:00.000+05:30

Fireworks

2007-10-22T22:08:00.000+05:30

Ghoda Ghadi near Pind Baluchi, Gurgaon

2007-09-14T13:23:00.000+05:30

Hope my blog does not get blocked due to Nudity

2007-08-29T21:31:00.000+05:30

Gyara Murti - New Delhi

2007-08-27T22:43:00.001+05:30

The impressive sculptures are a depiction of Mahatma Gandhi's famous Dandi March

This massive black sculpture is sheer poetry in stone. You’ll spot it on the T-junction on Sardar Patel Marg from where roads lead to Willingdon Crescent and Teen Murti House.

The sculpture, by Devi Prasad Roy Choudhary, depicts the famous Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 against oppressive salt taxes imposed by the British regime.

Pedals - Cycle

2007-08-25T01:53:00.000+05:30

Cycle Padlock

2007-08-25T01:31:00.000+05:30

Jai Hind

2007-08-14T23:25:00.000+05:30

Kavadiya

2007-08-11T01:02:00.001+05:30

Sleepy bones

2007-08-10T19:35:00.000+05:30

Cricket Bat

2007-08-09T02:13:00.000+05:30

India on Monitors

2007-08-09T01:34:00.000+05:30

Dwarka underpass and the rains

2007-08-09T01:29:00.000+05:30

Kavadiya

2007-08-09T00:36:00.000+05:30

Kavad Yatra , the world’s largest trek of Lord Shiva’s devotees beginning around July 30 from Hardwar and concluding at Augarhnath Temple in Meerut City or Pura Mahadev in Baghpat on Shivratri.

The annual Kavad trek sees over five lakh saffron clad kavadias singing hymns or folk songs as they merrily trek with the Kavads containing Ganga Jal from Hardwar to perform Jalabhishek at the Shivalaya of their choice.

Although most of them perform the Jalabhishek at Augarhnath Mandir or Pura Mahadev, many of the devotees perform the same in the Shivalaya of their villages.

Kavadiyas are pilgrims who collect Kavad, holy water from Ganga to perform puja at their local temple. Kavadiyas walk all the way from their native to Gangotri or Gaumukh and then return back to perform puja at their local Shiva temple with this holy water. While returning back with holy water they are not supposed to keep the water on ground at any point of time.

The kavadiyas comes from different parts of India and sometime the entire journey may take more than a month. People from different strata of life perform the journey with such a dedication and faith, something seen to believe.

All along the highway, one can see young men and sometimes women walking, carrying a colorfully decorated Kavad (a piece of bamboo with two pots on each ends).

Most wear hawaii slippers, some wore cheap tennis shoes, some wore the soles of their feet. They just kept on walking. Our driver, Prithvichand explained that these were pilgrims who had travelled to Hardwar (or Rishikesh), collected Ganga jal in pots, tied it to their Kavads and were walking back home, several 100 kilometers away.

We saw several hundred people at least. The look on the people's face was one of quiet determination. The devotion and discipline is quite incredibleIn India travel was developed in the form of ‘Tirth Yatra’ (pilgrimage). ‘Shantanu’, the father of ‘Shravan’, and his wife were blind and unable to travel but they were so curious for their ‘Tirth Yatra’ that his son ‘Shrvan’ made a ‘kanvar’, a special carrier, for his parents and he carried the kavad on his shoulder to fulfill their desire.

The great ‘Devarshi Narad’ always used to be on travel only. The ‘Char Dhams’ were purposely made to facilitate and make popular the travels.

The Indian PhotoGrapher Discussion forum

2007-08-07T00:36:00.000+05:30

Hi

I have launched a new discussion forum at http://theindianphotographer.freeforum.org/
Please do have a look and let me know your views and comments!!!

A cottage

2007-07-31T23:40:00.000+05:30

Looks like someone pinched the telephone

2007-07-31T23:38:00.000+05:30

The Mall in the night

2007-07-31T23:35:00.000+05:30

V for Victory

2007-07-31T23:32:00.000+05:30

Cafe in the woods

2007-07-31T23:24:00.000+05:30

Naldehra Golf Club

2007-07-31T22:51:00.000+05:30

Conference is over!!!

2007-07-31T22:40:00.000+05:30

Looking through Nature's keyhole

2007-07-31T22:30:00.000+05:30

Naldera

2007-07-31T22:29:00.000+05:30

Trees on top

2007-07-31T22:16:00.000+05:30

Baba Sahib Bhimrao Ambedkar

2007-07-31T22:08:00.000+05:30

Baba Sahib Bhimrao Ambedkar (1891-1956)

This is the Statue of Bharat Ranta Baba Sahib Bhimrao Ambedkar.
This statue was unvieled by the Governer of Himachal Pradesh Shri Bali Ram Bhagat on April 14, 1993
The sculptor is Shri Sunil Paul, Calcutta

Gorton Castle, Shimla

2007-07-31T22:02:00.000+05:30

Belonging to a Mr. Gorton of the Indian civil Service, in 1840, a house called "Gorton Castle" Stood here and in later years, this served as the residence of various officials including Members of the Vieroy's council. Towarsd the end of the 19th Century, the site was also considered for the town's Catholic church; a subsequent owner, Sir James Walker finally donated it for the purposes of a hospital. The hospital was built in another position and Gorton Castle was rebuilt as a neo-Gothic structure that had the famous Sir Swinton Jacob as its architect - The Rajasthani Jaali work on its balconies and certain other decorative devices obviously came from his forty-five years experience as the Executive engineer of the princely state of Jaipur. The construction was superintended by Major H.F. Chesney of the Royal Engineers, and the cost was Rs 13,42,901. Completed on 1 August 1904, this was the Civil Secretariat of the Imperial Government of India and housed the Legislative, Lands, Education, Home Health and Finance departments. Today, this houses the offices of the Accountant General of Himachal Pradesh.

Sprawled over a floor area of almost 12,500 square metres, this is built of dressed stone quarried in Shimla's Sanjauli area and set in lime. The rooks are of galvanized iron that follow the "Naini Tal" pattern of flat sheets with ridges in between. The flooring is of concrete set over corrugated iron sheets.

Railway Board Building

2007-07-31T21:03:00.000+05:30

A unique building of its time was built in 1896-97 by M/S Richardson and Cruddas, A Bombay based firm, at a very just sum of Rs 4,08,476/- only. This building replaced the site of old residences known as "Herbert House" and "Lowville".

These houses have been rented by the government to run public works secretariat offices and then the railway board and commerce department, were later purchased and demolisted to erect this handsome structure, abobe road level.

The building has four levels and with one side exposed, climbing down the hill, it has three "basements". built at a time when safety was a core consideration for important buildings throughout the britesh empire, This unsual cast iron and steel structure was desiogned to be structurally fire resistant.

The testimony of this lies in the fact that no original features were lost in inhoujse restoration works carried out by Shimla Unit of Central Public Works department, after a blaze stuck the top floor of building on 10th February 2001. Its facade is as imposing as ever even after the fire.

In Shima, the present day secretariat of the govt of HP at Ellerslie and offices of the army training command (the former offices of the commander in chield of the indian army have also have employed this building construction technique to an extent keeping in view its ever lasting and imposing structural features.

Even today this building provides for good study to students of repuated archirectural schools and IITs of India.

Shimla TypeWriter Company in Shimla

2007-07-31T20:00:00.000+05:30

Drinking Water on the Mall Road, Shimla

2007-07-31T19:33:00.000+05:30

Lal Bahadur Shastri - 1904-1966

2007-07-31T19:30:00.000+05:30

"Vehicles Prohibited in Both directions"

2007-07-31T19:28:00.000+05:30

Clock at the Telegraph Office

2007-07-31T19:24:00.000+05:30

Murals by Prof. M.C. Saxena

2007-07-31T19:19:00.000+05:30

The Mall in Shimla is not just about swanky joints and carefree tourists. A stroll down the mall road and one can get educated about the Himachali ways, only if one knows where to look.

No, do not even try out one of those shops that sell the ethnic stuff for they do not have the time to enlighten you about the Himachali lifestyle or its cultural scenario during the peak tourist season. Look at the walls of the Mall instead, and you will find two huge murals speaking eloquently about the life of Himachal.

One huge (almost 20 feet by 15 feet) mural on tea plucking and another one of similar size on apple plucking tells you not just the art of plucking but also the dignity of labour and the sense of duty which is part of each Himachali’s upbringing. If you need a little help with your analysis, you can always contact the creator of these two, Prof. M.C. Saxena who has along with his name added his contact number too.

“If you have looked carefully, you will see the peaceful aura of the women folk who despite working hard both in fields and home, manage to maintain their serenity,” says Prof Saxena, who came to Shimla from Lucknow in the early sixties and made it his home.

“They believe in dignity, duty and labour,” he adds. And for this artist, writer and trained psychologist, this is the quality of Himachal that drew him like a magnet.

Sentiment aside, these bronze-finished stone murals teaches the technology part of the plucking business. “I am trying to depict the rare technology which the Himachalis use to pluck apples, swirl it around the stem at a particular point, and while tea plucking in Himachal is so different from that of Assam and it is only the tribes of Kangra and Palampur know how to do it. Both murals were commissioned in the early ‘80s.

For someone, whose very style is based on the East-West synthesis as far as his art is concerned, Saxena has done his best to give his murals an authentic touch. “Though my style varies, the basic fiber of my art is based on mixing up the traditional elements of our art with that of Western.” So Saxena prefers the composition style of the West while for physiology, symbology and emotion it is the East he looks towards. “The trick is to blend these two styles at the right proportion and make it feel Indian,” he says.

Once you are familiar with his style, you can easily spot his creations elsewhere in Shimla, Lady with a Pitcher or Himbala near the Ridge. The earlier one has Rajasthani touch to it but it marvels in technology. “I made it so that if anyone approaches the fountain, water starts pouring,” he says. There is one composition at one of the government offices titled Duty with Devotion based on the theme of Indo-Pak Summit in 1972.

After retiring from the Government College for Women in 1992 as a Professor of Para Psychology, Saxena’s time now is mostly devoted to promoting art.

“At present I am making a five-figure composition on the theme of War and Peace,” he is excited about this new one. “Through this I am trying to portray a young man’s plea for peace,” he adds.

And we leave him to get along with his mission we desperately hope that his plea for peace falls into the right ears.

Restaurent with a view: Spars Cafe

2007-07-31T19:04:00.000+05:30

Police Station on The Mall, Shimla

2007-07-31T18:57:00.000+05:30

Nagar Nigam, Shimla

2007-07-31T18:49:00.000+05:30

The Grindlays Bank

2007-07-31T18:41:00.000+05:30

ICICI Bank, the country's largest private sector bank announced on July 01, 2002 that it has acquired two bank branches located in the popular tourist towns of Shimla and Darjeeling respectively, from Standard Chartered Grindlay's Bank. The acquisition marks the foray of IC1CI Bank in the two towns.

The branch in Shimla, housed in a landmark heritage property on the famous Mall Road, has been in operation since 1877. Currently, the branch has more than 3,000 retail accounts and a deposit base of Rs. 41 cRore. The Darjeeling branch is located on Laden-la Road, one of the prime commercial areas of the town. The branch has more than 3,500 retail accounts and a deposit base of Rs. 57 crore.

The Grindlays Bank (1912) - the world wide bank started by Robert Melville Grindlay

Nice thing by the road side

2007-07-31T18:11:00.000+05:30

Lala Laj Pat Rai

2007-07-31T18:04:00.000+05:30

Lala Laj Pat Rai
The Great Patriot of Punjab 1865-1928
This statue was brought from Lahaore and Re-Erected in Shimla and was unveiled by the Hobable Dr. Gopichand Bhargva Premier East Punjab on 15th August 1948

Police Constable in Shimla

2007-07-31T17:58:00.000+05:30

OK! OK!!.. I love you too!!

2007-07-31T02:08:00.000+05:30

A Cottage

2007-07-31T02:03:00.000+05:30

Helipad

2007-07-31T02:00:00.000+05:30

Monkey eating corn also saying yummy

2007-07-31T01:55:00.000+05:30

Black Yak

2007-07-31T01:51:00.000+05:30

affi

The yak (Bos grunniens) is a long-haired humped domestic bovine found in Tibet and throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, as well as in Mongolia. In Tibetan, the word yak refers only to the male of the species; a female is a dri or nak. In most languages which borrowed the word, including English, however, yak is usually used for both sexes.

Wild yaks stand about two meters tall at the shoulder. Domestic yaks are about half that height. Both types have long shaggy hair to insulate them from the cold. Wild yaks can be either brown or black. Domesticated ones can also be white. Both males and females have horns.

Wild yaks can weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). They usually form groups of between 10 and 30 animals. Their habitat is treeless uplands like hills, mountains and plateaux between 3,200 m (10,500 ft) and roughly 5,400 m (18,000 ft). They eat grasses, lichens and other plants. They are insulated by dense, close, matted under-hair as well as their shaggy outer hair.

Yaks secrete a special sticky substance in their sweat which helps keep their under-hair matted and acts as extra insulation. This secretion is used in traditional Nepalese medicine. Many wild yaks are killed for food by the Tibetans; they are now a vulnerable species.

Domesticated yaks are kept primarily for their milk, fiber, and meat; In Mongolia yak milk is most commonly used as an Aphrodisiac because of its high protein content. At certain times of the year it is very distinctive because of its beer-like aroma and pink colouration. Yaks are also used as beasts of burden, transporting goods across mountain passes for local farmers and traders as well as in support of climbing and trekking expeditions, their dung is even burned to produce energy. Yak milk is often processed to a cheese called chhurpi in Tibetan and Nepali languages, and byaslag in Mongolia. Often the pack animals are actually crossbreeds of the yak and Bos taurus (common domestic cattle). These are known in Tibetan as dzo or dzopkyo.

Unlike cattle, yaks grunt rather than moo.

Yak fibers are soft and smooth, in several colors, including shades of gray, brown, black and white.

The length of yak fiber is about 1.2 inches. It is combed or shed from the yak and then dehaired.

The result is a splendid downy fiber that can be spun into yarn for knitting.

More recently, sports involving domesticated yaks, such as yak skiing, [Nat-han ] [ Tede-schi] or yak polo, are being marketed as tourist attractions in Central Asian countries.

In parts of Tibet Yak racing is considered a high source of entertainment at traditional Tibetan festivals.

*** The yak was probably domesticated in Tibet during the first millennium B.C., and domesticated animals now occur throughout the high plateaus and mountains of Central Asia, in association with people.

Yaks found in zoos are usually of the domesticated variety, which is smaller than the wild yak.

There are now more than 12 million domestic yaks in the highlands of Central Asia.

*** The wild yak is supremely well adapted to the harsh highlands with its thick coat, great lung capacity, and ability to clamber nimbly over rough terrain. Even its blood cells are designed for high elevations - they are about half the size of those of cattle and are at least three times more numerous, thus increasing its blood’s capacity to carry oxygen. Its thick coat and low number of sweat glands are also efficient adaptations for conserving heat.

*** In winter the yak survives temperatures as low as - 40 deg C (- 40 deg F).

*** Wild yak herds travel on snow in single file, carefully stepping on footprints left by the lead yak.

The wild yak was once numerous and widespread on the entire Tibetan plateau north of the Himalayas, in central China, India (Ladakh), Bhutan and Nepal. By around 1970 it was thought to occur only in remote areas, mainly in the northern and especially the northeastern parts of Tibet above 4000 m (13,000'), with a few animals still existing in Sikkim. Currently it is found in remote areas of the Tibetan plateau and adjacent highlands, including Gansu Province, China, with a few having been observed in the Chang Chenmo Valley of Ladakh (eastern Kashmir, India).

Wild yak distribution is highly clumped, with most animals in widely scattered herds, concentrated in the areas with little disturbance by humans. For the most part, the wild yak's eastern limit now lies at the transition zone between alpine meadow in the east and alpine steppe in the west. From here its range extends westward through southwestern Qinghai Province, China.

The western limit of the wild yak's distribution lies between the Karakoram and Kunlun Ranges in an area known as the Aksai Chin.

Uncontrolled hunting is the main reason for the wild yak's decline, and it is still the most serious current threat. Its range has been reduced by more than half during this century. In addition, the wild yak has lost most of the best alpine meadow and steppe habitat to pastoralists.

Problems are also caused by hybridization and competition with domestic yaks, as well as by disease transmitted by domestic yaks.

There are less than 2000 yaks in North America.

Yaks require no special fencing. Existing cattle facilities are easily used.

Yaks are disease resistant and cold hardy.

Yaks are quiet.

Female yaks are bred at 18-24 months.

Females calve with ease.

Cows can weigh up to 900 punds, bulls to 1200 pounds.

Yaks generally live 20-25 years.

White Yak

2007-07-31T01:48:00.000+05:30

2007-07-30T23:46:00.000+05:30

Artifact

2007-07-30T23:45:00.000+05:30

Artifact

2007-07-30T23:42:00.000+05:30

2007-07-30T23:41:00.000+05:30

Artifact

2007-07-30T23:36:00.000+05:30

2007-07-30T23:33:00.000+05:30

Kalibangan

2007-07-30T23:30:00.000+05:30

Kalibangan lies on the left bank of the dry course of the river Ghaggar(Ancient Saraswati) in the district of Ganganagar in Rajastan. Thapar excavated it from 1960 to 1969.

Kalibangan revealed two periods of occupation i.e. Pre-Harrapan and Harrapan. The period of Pre-Harrapan is c2450-2300 B.C and Harrapan is c1750 B.C.

Findings: Earthen ovens, cylindrical pits coated with lime plastering, ploughed field, terracotta objects, bangles of shells and terracotta, typical mature Harrapan pottery, chert weghts, a graduated scale, ivort comb and copper bull, beads of steatite, blades of chalcedony and agate, etc

Copper Hoard Culture

Artifact

2007-07-30T22:15:00.001+05:30